Court date

Suspect Esteban Santiago, 26, is scheduled to appear in court this morning.

The Iraq war veteran accused of killing five people and wounding six others in Friday’s Fort Lauderdale airport shooting is scheduled to appear in court this morning under tight security.

Esteban Santiago, 26, is being detained at the Broward Main Jail and is facing federal allegations he fatally shot people, as well as firearm and airport violence charges. If convicted, Santiago could face the death penalty.

Formal charges have not yet been filed against Santiago.

In the federal system, Santiago would have to be charged by a grand jury indictment unless he gives up that legal right. He would not enter a plea of guilty or not guilty until formal charges are filed, which could take days or weeks.

Given his history of mental health problems, any lawyer who represents Santiago is likely to ask for a mental competency evaluation to make sure he understands what is going on.

Airport security video shows Santiago pulling a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and shooting at people in the baggage carousel area in Terminal 2.

Santiago confessed shortly after the Friday afternoon shooting, according to the FBI and Broward Sheriff ’s Office.

He told investigators that he planned the attack and bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale to carry it out, according to court records. Agents said he legally checked a Walther 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines of ammunition in his baggage on a Delta Airlines flight from Alaska via Minnesota.